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Lakeland Drama Teacher Accused Of Leaving Scene Of Crash

Christina Dobbs Lee has been accused of running a red light, striking another car and then leaving the scene of a crash. (Via Polk County Sheriff’s Office)

LAKELAND, FL — A drama teacher at Kathleen Senior High School in Polk County has been accused of running a red light, striking another car and then leaving the scene of a crash in which a woman reported being injured.

Forty-seven-year-old Christina Dobbs Lee of Lakeland was arrested Thursday night after a driver who witnessed the crash followed her home and got her tag number, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

The crash occurred around 5:53 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Knights Station Road and Galloway Road in Lakeland,

"This is yet another reminder that drivers have a moral and legal responsibility to stop if involved in a crash," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. "If you are able, and it is safe to do so, render aid. Ms. Lee turned this crash from a traffic citation to a third-degree felony with one bad decision."

Kyle Kennedy of Polk County Public Schools told Patch that Lee has no disciplinary actions in her personnel file as a teacher at Kathleen Senior High School.

"Christina Lee has not been placed on any form of administrative leave at this time," Kennedy told Patch. "Our human resource services department will obtain a copy of the arrest affidavit and review whether any internal investigation should take place."

Lee was charged with leaving the scene of a crash with injuries without rendering aid and booked into the Polk County jail. She was later released after posting a $1,000 bond

The other driver, a 30-year-old woman from Lakeland, told Polk County Fire Rescue personnel that her left leg was very sore and that she planned to go to the hospital after leaving the crash scene. She refused to be taken by ambulance.

Lee answered the door of her home in the 3900 block of Laurel Branch Drive when deputies arrived Thursday night.

"Ms. Lee answered the door and told the investigator that yes, she drove a red Mazda SUV, and that yes, she was involved in a crash and left the scene."

Deputies found the Mazda parked inside Lee’s garage with front-end damage to the front passenger side. The airbags had also been deployed.

"She told the deputy: ‘I was driving northbound on Galloway Road North; I ran the red light and crashed into the other vehicle,’"the sheriff’s office said. "She told deputies that the abrasions on her arm were from the airbag deployment."